Asian Unicorn also known as Saola is different from its similar family of cattle, sheep, deer, and goats. After its first sighting in 1992, it gained the attention of scientists. In Vietnam the biologist Do Tuoc found an animal skull and two trophy horns. The new finding was astounding and in 1993 further remains of the animal were found including skin that proved that belonged to the bovid family but was different from them.
If we look at the anatomy of the animal, it weighs about 90 to 100 kilograms. It has white spots on its face which makes it appear distinct. It is declared to be the first largest mammal according to scientists and still held this place for the past 50 years. They had been caught in the camera only a few times by the scientists. Some villagers also tried to capture them but they could not survive for a few weeks. It is probably due to the reason that they could not find the right diet for them.
Its discovery is categorized as a spectacular happening of the 20th century. Its population has come to a decline due to wildlife hunts carried out massively. It is also captured and traded for meat purposes. The last thirty years have brought the species to near extinction. It is also used to make traditional Asian medicine which is also a cause of its decline and death ratio. In the Annamite Mountains, efforts have been made for patrolling the nature reserves. These mountains are extended throughout the 680 miles in Vietnam to the northeast of Cambodia. People in this range use snares to kill the wildlife which is a major cause of the important wildlife extinction.
If we talk about the population estimation of the species, in 2001 there were almost 65 to700 species of Asian Unicorn in Vietnam and Laos. In 2006, they were enlisted as endangered species. It was claimed worldwide that the animal is in more danger now as compared to the massive hunting in wildlife during the previous years. In the central nature reserve of Vietnam Saola was last photographed in the year 2013.
Two biologists founded a group to keep an eye on the illegal ban and trading of Asian Unicorns called as Saola working group (SWG). They worked tirelessly to return the species to their breeding places and most importantly their natural habitats. During the year 2017 to 2019, the SWG tried to capture the latest photographs of the animal, but not even one of the million photographs could not capture Saola clearly.
One organization has spent money on raising dogs that will aid in finding the animal remains after the failure of many camera traps. Also, tries are being done at testing saola-specific DNAs. Scientists are trying hard to save this historical animal that has presided on the Earth for about eight million years.
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